Rival Dedham and Norwood have plenty to play for on Thanksgiving

In the 89th Thanksgiving Day meeting between the rival Dedham and Norwood High football teams, a win would mark a significant number for each side.

For the Marauders, a victory would be their sixth and give the program its first winning season since 2003.

“Attaining that sixth win just magnifies everything we have accomplished this year,” said Dedham coach Dave Flynn. “These kids could really be among the elite of Dedham High football being on a winning team and be remembered forever. We talk about building everlasting memories. A sixth win they can hang their hat on and be proud for the rest of their lives.”

For the Mustangs, a victory would be their first and not only avoid a winless final season for the departing class but provide a boost for the future.

“I tell the kids two things,” said Norwood coach Jim Tighe. “To the seniors, it’s your last game and most of you aren’t going to play football again and the game you are going to remember the most of the last one, so you win this one and that is what you are going to remember. And for the rest of them, you win this one and we start off the next season on good note.”

“We have something to play for and they have something to play for,” added Tighe. “They are looking for a winning record, and we are looking to get one. Go to Dedham and steal one.”

The Marauders enjoyed their first year in the Tri-Valley League, qualifying for the Division 6 South playoffs with a 4-3 regular season record on the way to 5-5, grabbing their first postseason berth since 1988, and earning Flynn the nod as TVL Small Coach of the Year.

Dedham enters the game coming off a 38-26 loss to Norwell, which might be a good sign for the Marauders as they have answered all four of their previous defeats with a victory.

“These kids have always made the adjustment and bounced back from adversity,” said Flynn.

Four Marauders were selected as TVL All-Stars. Senior linebacker Tommy McMillan nabbed the TVL Small Defensive MVP award, while two-way senior linemen Dan Labadini and JC Cleveland and junior running back Tyler Martel were also honored.

For the second straight season, junior Ryan Flaherty has come off the bench to solidify the quarterback position, throwing for five TDs. Martel was part of two-pronged rushing attack for most of the season with junior Nijal Hill, leading the team with 13 touchdowns on the ground, including at least one on nine of the 10 games, but Hill was dismissed from the team after Week 8.

Junior Michael Brennan, a TVL honorable mention, has been a big play weapon as a RB/WR hybrid, while junior Jack Tannous (4 TDs) is also a favorite target of Flaherty.

“It’s a typical Dedham team, tough kids that are going to come to play and are going to give you 60 minutes,” said Tighe. “We are not built to turn over the ball, not built to have penalties. In order to come and play with them we have to play mistake free.”

Norwood struggled through its final Bay State Conference season before joining the Marauders in the TVL. In their four Herget Division games, the Mustangs were outscored 151-7.

Norwood was more competitive against nonleague foes, but was plagued by second-half fades. The closest the Mustangs came to a win was a 29-27 overtime loss to Norton in which they led 21-0 at the half, while Norwood also had first-half advantages in losses to Sharon and Bellingham, the lone common opponent between the team. Dedham posted a 42-22 win over the Blackhawks while the Mustangs fell, 39-20.

Junior Marc Murphy, who made his first start as quarterback in last year’s game, tossed six touchdowns in his first full year as the No. 1 signal caller. Junior Jay wide receiver Wladkowski, who has not had much opportunity to showcase his big leg as a placekicker this year, led the team with five total touchdowns.

Injuries across the board have ravaged the Mustangs – seniors Chris Sheehan, Max Pfingston, Dan Quinn and Frank Sullivan are among those who will not play on Thanksgiving – but have hit particularly hard at running back, where Norwood has to dip deep into the depth chart to give the ball to freshman Rob Wladkowski, who has three touchdowns in the last two games.

Norwood leads the overall series 48-38-2. Dedham’s 20-13 win last fall was just its fourth on Thanksgiving in the last 22 years and the Marauders are looking to keep the Frank Wall-Sal Toti Trophy on Whiting Avenue for first time since 1991-92.

“When you are playing a team that is 0-fer, that’s a very dangerous team to play, but we are not worried about Norwood, we are worried about ourselves,” said Flynn. “We need to handle ball security and play sound defense doing our job, just get back to basics and if we play the game that we worked so hard to play during the offseason and from preseason throughout now, we give ourselves a chance to win every week.”

Get Involved

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Dedham Transcript ~ 254 Second Ave., Needham, Massachusetts 02494 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service